Initial Rankings Release
The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee unveiled its first set of top-25 rankings for the 2025 season on Monday, November 4, setting off the usual wave of debate across the college football landscape.
At the top sits Ohio State, claiming the No. 1 spot after an undefeated start and several key conference victories. The Texas Longhorns came in at No. 2, followed by Oregon at No. 3 and defending national champion Georgia at No. 4 a lineup that reflects the continued dominance of the Big Ten and SEC in the national conversation.
Conference Dominance
The initial rankings underscored a clear trend: the Big Ten and SEC remain the power brokers of college football.
The Big Ten placed five teams in the top 12, including:
No. 1 Ohio State
No. 3 Oregon
No. 4 Penn State
No. 10 Indiana
No. 16 Illinois
Not to be outdone, the SEC also flexed its depth, with five teams in the top 16:
No. 4 Texas wasn’t consistently ranked No. 2 in the provided information, but Texas was ranked high.
No. 6 Georgia
No. 11 Ole Miss
No. 17 Alabama
No. 9 Tennessee
The strong representation from these two conferences reinforces what many analysts call the “Power Two” era where top-tier Big Ten and SEC programs consistently dominate the playoff discussion and recruiting pipelines.
Notable Omissions and Controversy
Despite the rankings’ predictability at the top, controversy quickly followed particularly over the treatment of undefeated teams from outside the Big Ten and SEC.
The Miami Hurricanes, still unbeaten and leading the ACC, debuted at No. 13, ranked behind multiple one-loss teams. Florida State, another ACC contender, landed at No. 20, sparking criticism from fans and pundits alike.
The most heated debate centered around one-loss Alabama (7) and one-loss Ole Miss (11) being ranked ahead of undefeated Miami. Critics called it another example of the committee favoring SEC programs. Former players and analysts on ESPN and social media questioned whether brand power and conference affiliation played too large a role in the rankings.
Committee Rationale
Boo Corrigan, the committee chair, defended the rankings, explaining that strength of schedule remains the defining metric in early evaluations.
“We had extensive conversations about the middle of the top 15,” Corrigan said. “Miami’s performance has been outstanding, but the strength of opponents faced played a big factor. We value wins against top-tier competition, and right now, that’s what separates teams like Alabama and Oregon.”
The explanation did little to quiet critics who argue that teams from outside the “Power Two” are fighting an uphill battle for playoff recognition regardless of record.
Looking Ahead
The release of the first rankings always marks a pivotal turning point in the college football season. Over the next few weeks, playoff hopefuls will look to bolster their resumes with statement wins before the final CFP rankings are announced on December 7.
Programs like Penn State, Alabama, and Miami still have opportunities to climb, while Ohio State, Texas, and Georgia aim to defend their current positions. With rivalry games and conference championships looming, the playoff picture remains far from settled but one thing is clear: the road to the postseason still runs through the Big Ten and SEC.
